Investigation of blood lipid levels and statin interventions in outpatients with coronary heart disease in China: the China Cholesterol Education Program (CCEP).
BACKGROUND
The aim of the China Cholesterol Education Program is to investigate the blood lipid levels, the statin intervention and the rates of achieving the goal of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level in Chinese outpatients with coronary heart disease (CHD).


RESULTS
The multicenter study recruited 4,778 outpatients with CHD. The mean level of LDL-C for the total outpatients was 2.93+/-1.00 mmol/L; 82.2% of the participants received statin therapy. The LDL-C levels were 3.06+/-1.08 mmol/L and 2.89+/-0.97 mmol/L in outpatients with high risk and very high risk, respectively (p<0.001). No significant difference was found about the rates of statin intervention in outpatients at high risk and very high risk (81.4% vs 82.5%, p>0.05). Though they had higher rates of statin intervention, only 36.2% of the high-risk outpatients achieved the target LDL-C level (<2.6 mmol/L); 10.9% of the very high risk outpatients achieved the optimal LDL-C level (<1.82 mmol/L) suggested by NCEP ATP III. The rate of achieving the target level was only 42.2%, even though LDL-C <2.6mmol/L was the goal for patients at very high risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the outpatients received a higher rate of statin therapy, the rates of achieving the target cholesterol level were lower. There is a significant gap between the guidelines and clinical practice in China.
Hu
Dayi
D
Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Center of Tongji University, Shanghai, China. leetriumph@yahoo.com.cn
Li
Jue
J
Li
Xiankai
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors